BearDen Solutions endorses the excellent talents of the iiGrowth team.  iiGrowth did a phenomenal job building our web site, coordinating inputs and designing our new logo.  We are extremely pleased to be associated with the iiGrowth Team.

Brenda Bearden, CEO BearDen Solutions, LLC

iiGrowth has been engaged by BearDen Solution to develop their new corporate brand artifacts and website.

BearDen Solutions was founded in 2013, and is led by Brenda Bearden, the founder and CEO of the company. BearDen Solutions provides services in four key disciplines; Acquisition and Training, Program Management, Finance Management, and Information Technology.

Their experienced team loves new challenges and working in complex environments.

iiGrowth’s marketing support initiatives include brand services (development of logo, business cards, corporate brochures), website design and programming; customizing the WordPress content management system; and developing linkage of website to business/social media channels.

The new website is depicted below.  Click on the image to zoom in and view in greater detail.

The focal point for the effort begins with a new user-friendly navigation experience for the Center’s customers and professional relationships. However, there is so much more that is needed to create strong and lasting channels of communication.  iiGrowth’s efforts are to build the foundation as well as the nodes that will ensure lasting and sustained communications between the Center and its clients and partners.  iiGrowth’s marketing and branding support efforts for the Center’s enhanced online presence include the following:

• Web design and programming,
• Message and content development,
• Social media and syndication support, and
• Search engine optimization

iiGrowth’s efforts in building an enhanced online presence are creating positive inroads in assisting the Center to better communicate with clients and business partners.

The Center has a long history of serving Fairfax County. It was originally founded in 1974 as the Marital and Sexual Therapy Institute.  The founders were Brian C. Campden-Main and his wife, Thelma J. Campden-Main. Dr. Sara joined the Institute in 1983 as Co-Director. The Center, renamed in 1999, retains its original mission statement to “conduct research in and to provide evaluative and therapeutic services in the sensitive area of human sexuality”.

• Acquisition and Training
• Program Management
• Finance Management
• Information Technology

BearDen Solutions supports Government missions.  They bring “passion, intelligence, collaboration and precision” to each engagement.  Brenda Bearden, CEO and Founder, is meticulous in creating a team of professionals with “insight, experience and impeccable performance records”. Brenda places tremendous value on “organizational uniqueness” and an ability to “deliver solutions that take a 360 perspective, positively impact mission, and build long-term goodwill”.

BearDen Solutions tag line is “Professionals Thriving in Complex Environments”.

iiGrowth has joined the British Business Club. Marcis Liors Skadmanis, Managing Director, iiGrowth UK will be the iiGrowth lead contact at the Club. Marcis will coordinate efforts about meeting with iiGrowth at a British Business Club event.

Chris does more than just have the students read books. His approach is to provide guidance, and link this to a process where students immerse themselves into their work by talking to real businesses, real people, and presenting their recommendations to seasoned international executives. One word for this, “Fascinating”!

Chris Brodersen, in his first semester teaching at BU, began teaching at Bryant University in Rhode Island in 2008. When he is not teaching, he is working full-time as the Senior Manager for Releasability and Technology Transfer at Raytheon. Chris’ approach opens up country after country to these “applied” studies. It allows students from BU to gain valuable and practical international experiences. Next to being in-country, this approach to learning, decision making, and taking on real responsibility for deadlines brings BU MET students the type of experience they can take back to their own businesses. Most or all of the students in this program are already working so this course is something they can draw on and put to use.

During the Spring 2012 semester three teams were formed. One of the teams that was formed was for Latvia (Team Latvia). A group of four students, assessed Latvia, one of the Baltic Tigers, and examined setting up an Information Technology related business in Latvia. As part of the applied process, Brodersen invited iiGrowth LLC and Latvian Chamber of Commerce (LatCham) representatives Gustav Plato (CEO iiGrowth/Founder LatCham) and Rudolfs Peksens (VP Strategy and Alliances at iiGrowth) as mentors to support the team.

Team Latvia conducted research and obtained feedback from the assigned mentor team. Using iiGrowth’s collaborative technologies for project management (37 Signals Basecamp) and communications (Cisco’s WebEx) allowed for excellent interaction with the team. Once their work was to a certain stage they were able to present to a team of “Judges”, who evaluated their overall work, analytical and decision making results, and with everything else provided the teams a great overall experience. The students found the experience to be challenging.

Steve Eaton, a Team Latvia member stated, “Beyond the great overview of international business our course provided us, some of the greatest lessons learned for me were gaining deep understandings of the values and culture of Latvia and the Baltic states, and how they reflect on the business environment in the region. The ability to work directly with those with first-hand experience in Latvia proved invaluable, not only for our assignments, but also in garnering insight into doing business in the country, and the tremendous opportunities Latvia offers. Through our research and collaboration we saw a country that pulled itself out of a deep recession while much of the world stagnated, and continues to show strong growth as the EU wavers, which is in large part a testament to the strength of its ICT sector. “

iiGrowth’s connection to Chris and BU, came through Krista Tassa of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce (She is an honorary member of LatCham). Krista had met Chris at World Trade in spring of June 2010 at Bryant University. He had been to the Baltics several times and they started batting ideas back and forth about how to possibly include the Baltics in his class instruction. These discussions led to Krista guest lecturing about market entry into the U.S. market (Krista has practical experience through her own venture ParkNow! as well as the Estonian Chamber). It was Krista who subsequently made the connection with Latvia. As a result, Team Latvia, including the mentors from iiGrowth, was formed for the Spring 2012 semester.

Chris continues to teach International Business Management at BU MET and has many more interesting and innovative approaches for learning on the horizon. We at iiGrowth are very pleased to have been part of the BU MET ecosystem for learning and look forward to working with Chris again in the future. We also encourage serious international business management students who are seeking something unique to find out more about Chris’ applied approach. It is fascinating and provides a practical approach to studies that students can take back to their own work environments.

iiGrowth UK is pleased to announce that it has joined the British Business Club. The British Business Club is a powerful business networking tool for both British and international firms.  By allowing companies to build their networks and connect with business partners worldwide, it increases opportunities for businesses to meet and engage with potential partners during the unique atmosphere of the London 2012 Olympic Games themselves.

The British Business Club is an exciting new resource available to help everyone make the most of business networking activity around the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and other major sports events now and in the future.

The British Business Club is a partnership between UK Trade & Investment, London & Partners, London Business Network and BIS, on behalf of the UK-wide London 2012 Business network. 

Now that iiGrowth has joined the British Business Club, Marcis Liors Skadmanis, Managing Director, iiGrowth UK will be the iiGrowth lead contact at the Club. Marcis will coordinate efforts about meeting with iiGrowth at a British Business Club event.  Please contact us to learn how networking can help your business and be part of your business successful business growth strategy.

Marcis Liors Skadmanis, immediately steps into his appointed role as iiGrowth UK Managing Director. He said, “I am pleased to be able to help lead iiGrowth’s service expansion efforts globally and in the United Kingdom in particular.  We envision iiGrowth as a leading global business accelerator for Small and Medium sized Enterprises as well as Non-Governmental Organizations that can benefit from global networks and connectivity.”

Recently, Skadmanis has  been head of Skadmanis Group, a London based law firm specializing in business and commercial law.  Previously he worked as a lawyer in the Republic of Latvia.

iiGrowth CEO and founder, Gustav Plato said, “I am very pleased that Marcis has decided to join the iiGrowth team as iiGrowth UK Managing Director.  I initially met Marcis in his role as CEO and Founder of the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce.  His ability to recognize challenges faced by SMEs, NGOs, and Government and can do attitude to help solve these challenges adds great value to iiGrowth’s ability to accelerate business growth for our clients.”

Marcis Liors Skadmanis holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), a Master of International Laws (LL.M.) and Certificate of Business Administrations (IEVF TIN).